Mayor Mamdani approves $607 million renovation of NYCHA's Nostrand Houses

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a $607 million investment to renovate the Nostrand Houses public-housing complex in Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay, covering 1,148 apartments at roughly $528,700 each. The overhaul will gut kitchens and bathrooms, install quartz countertops, new appliances, double-pane windows, and heat-pump climate controls, while also addressing lead and mold hazards. Building-wide improvements include new elevators, boilers, rewired electrical systems, expanded security cameras and an on-site guard, plus accessibility upgrades for residents with mobility, vision or hearing needs.

The project is financed through the Public Housing Preservation Trust, combining federal Section 8 funds, city budget allocations, and contributions from entities such as the Housing Development Corporation and the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. While officials highlight the modernization benefits, housing advocates criticize the steep per-unit expense, especially as a rent-stabilization freeze affects private landlords across the city.